HARBOUR View retained their Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Under-21 League with a comprehensive 5-1 whipping of Arnett Gardens at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday.

Harbour View, who were winning the Under-21 League for the third consecutive year, finished on 75 points, two ahead of Waterhouse on 73 and Tivoli Gardens with 72.

Portmore United, whose 2-0 win crippled Tivoli Gardens’ chances of lifting the title, finished fourth on 71 points and remained the most successful team with five wins, followed by Harbour View with three and Arnett Gardens, two.

John Ross Edwards was the star netting twice in the second and 47th minutes and was clearly the best player on the field. He was ably supported by Ranique Muir (51st), Donovan Edwards (53rd) and Oneil Fisher (75th).

Dwayne Silvera scored the lone goal for the hapless Arnett Gardens in the 57th minute, as they struggled to cope with the champions and should have conceded a lot more but for some wasteful finishing by the ‘Stars of the East’.

Winning coach Harold Thomas said it was a just reward for the hard work the club put it.

“We came in the game confident but were wary of the potential damage that Arnett could do us. The players worked hard and they deserved to win,” Thomas told the Observer, while his players were celebrating.

Thomas said the champions would be seeking their fourth hold next season as they will retain at least 70 per cent of this winning team.

“We have a tremendous amount of talent here. It is a tremendous team effort not from players alone, but from coaches and management as well. The players have bought into the vision of the club,” said Thomas.

The winning trophy was handed over by Gregory Engelbrecht, FIFA Development Manager for the Americas, who was in the island to inspect the Goal Project among other football business.

In the other games: August Town and Rivoli United scored identical 4-2 wins over Humble Lion and Sporting Central Academy, respectively, while St Georges and Village battled to a 1-1 draw.